Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

The Power of the Face, Ultrasound Glasses, Listening Cat Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how using a face in marketing makes people more likely to align themselves with social causes, how scientists in China have developed a pair of glasses that use ultrasound technology to measure our eyes blinking, and how cats can distinguish between speech directed at them and other humans.

The Power of the Face

“The Power of Putting a Human Face on Social Causes” by Association for Psychological Science
- https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/please-feed-me-the-power-of-putting-a-human-face-on-social-causes.html
“Helping Fellow Beings: Anthropomorphized Social Causes and the Role of Anticipatory Guilt” by Hee-Kyung Ahn, Hae Joo Kim, and Pankaj Aggarwal (PAYWALLED)
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797613496823
“Reasons Why Putting a Human Face in Your Marketing Campaign Is an Essential Strategy” by Alan Draper
- https://www.business2community.com/marketing/reasons-why-putting-a-human-face-in-your-marketing-campaign-is-an-essential-strategy-02104065

Ultrasound Glasses

“New Technology Detects Eye Blinking With Ultrasound” by Melisha Yashinski
- https://sciworthy.com/new-technology-detects-eye-blinking-with-ultrasound/
“MEMS ultrasonic transducers for safe, low-power and portable eye-blinking monitoring” by Sheng Sun, Jianyuan Wang, Menglun Zhang, Yuan Ning, Dong Ma, Yi Yuan, Pengfei Niu, Zhicong Rong, Zhuochen Wang & Wei Pang
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41378-022-00396-w

Listening Cat

“Cat got your tongue: Cats distinguish between speech directed at them and humans” by SPRINGER NATURE
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/968597
“Cats can tell when speech is directed at them” By Andrei Ionescu
- https://www.earth.com/news/cats-can-tell-when-speech-is-directed-at-them/
“Discrimination of cat-directed speech from human-directed speech in a population of indoor companion cats (Felis catus)” by Charlotte de Mouzon et al. (PAYWALL)
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-022-01674-w

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Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-power-of-the-face-ultrasound-glasses-listening-cat

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Time Flies, Human Microbiome, Smartphone Death Predictor Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how time flies as we age, how scientists are learning more and more about the microbiome within a human body, and the potential for a new phone app that can predict when you might die.

Time Flies

“Why Does 'Time Fly' As We Get Older?” by Christopher Dwyer
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thoughts-thinking/202209/why-does-time-fly-we-get-older
“Why time flies so fast as we get older” BY ABIGAIL SAWYER
- https://www.biotechniques.com/cell-and-tissue-biology/why-time-flies-as-we-get-older/

Human Microbiome

“Scientists Have Made A Human Microbiome From Scratch” by Carl Zimmer
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/science/human-microbiome-bacteria.html
“Design, construction, and in vivo augmentation of a complex gut microbiome” by Alice G. Cheng et al.
- https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00990-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867422009904%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Smartphone Death Predictor

“Your smartphone could be used to estimate your risk of dying” by Grace Wade
- https://www.newscientist.com/article/2343342-your-smartphone-could-be-used-to-estimate-your-risk-of-dying/
“Smartphones could be used to predict a person's risk of dying, study finds” by Cathal Ryan
- https://www.buzz.ie/lifestyle/health/study-predict-mortality-rates-smartphone-28316953
“Population analysis of mortality risk: Predictive models from passive monitors using motion sensors for 100,000 UK Biobank participants” by Haowen Zhou, Ruoqing Zhu, Anita Ung, and Bruce Schatz
- https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pdig.0000045

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/time-flies-human-microbiome-smartphone-death-predictor

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Body Map, Brain 2.0, Pig Bystanders Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Today we discuss how the body can physically feel emotions, how axolotls can regenerate their brains, and how pigs can play peacemakers during pig-on-pig fights.

Body Map

“Where Are Emotions Felt In The Body?” by Juliana Ukiomogbe
- https://greatist.com/connect/emotional-body-maps-infographic#infographic
“Bodily maps of emotions” by Lauri Nummenmaa, Enrico Glerean, Riitta Hari, and Jari K. Hietanen
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1321664111

Brain 2.0

“Axolotl Weirdos Can Regrow Their Brains, A New Map Reveals Their Regeneration Secret” by Ashley Maynard
- https://www.livescience.com/axolotls-can-regenerate-their-brains
“Adult axolotls can regenerate original neuronal diversity in response to brain injury” by Ryoji Amamoto, Violeta Gisselle Lopez Huerta, Emi Takahashi, Guangping Dai, Aaron K Grant, Zhanyan Fu, and Paola Arlotta
- https://elifesciences.org/articles/13998

Pig Bystanders

“Pig bystanders are pretty good at resolving anxiety and conflict in the pen” by Laura Baisas
- https://www.popsci.com/environment/pig-aggression-intervention/
“Bystander Effect” by Psychology Today Staff
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bystander-effect
“Pigs mediate barnyard fights with a light touch of the snout, study says” By Leo Sands
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/11/10/pigs-study-conflict-fight/

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/body-map-brain-20-pig-bystanders

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Astronaut Blood, Screen Wrinkles, Save the Snow Crab Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

Today we explore how astronauts’ blood mutates when coming back from space, how our screens are aging us, and the potential extinction event of the snow crab.

Astronaut Blood

“Astronauts' blood shows signs of DNA mutations due to spaceflight” by Elizabeth Howell
- https://www.space.com/astronaut-spaceflight-cancer-dna-mutations-study
“Researchers Find Spaceflight May Be Associated With DNA Mutations and Increased Risk of Developing Heart Disease and Cancer” by Mount Sinai
https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2022/fesearchers-find-spaceflight-may-be-associated-with-dna-mutations-and-increased-risk-of-developing-heart-disease-and-cancer

Screen Wrinkles

“Your phone screen could be making you age quicker” by Alex Hughes
- https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/your-phone-screen-could-be-making-you-age-quicker/
“Too much blue light can accelerate aging ... at least for flies” by Sarah Sloat
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/much-blue-light-can-accelerate-aging-least-flies-rcna44707

Save the Snow Crab

“What made billions of snow crabs disappear from the Bering Sea?” By Joanna Thompson
- https://www.livescience.com/billions-snow-crabs-vanish-from-bering-sea
“Valuable crab populations are in a ‘very scary’ decline in warming Bering Sea” by Hal Bernton
- https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/valuable-crab-populations-crash-in-a-warming-bering-sea/
“Determination of Overfishing or an Overfished Condition: A Notice” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/10/2022-02857/determination-of-overfishing-or-an-overfished-condition

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/astronaut-blood-screen-wrinkles-save-the-snow-crab

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Happy Healthy Kids, Hearing Data, Oystersong Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how kids’ well-being can affect adult heart health, what our ears can tell us about the cosmos, and how playing music meant for oysters can help them adapt to climate change.

Happy Healthy Kids

“Protecting Children’s Psychological Well-being Could Help Strengthen Their Hearts as Adults” by Boehm, J. K.
- https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/2022-sept-childhood-psychological-health-adult-hearts.html
“Psychological Well-Being in Childhood and Cardiometabolic Risk in Middle Adulthood: Findings From the 1958 British Birth Cohort” by Julia K. Boehm
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976221075608

Hearing Data

“Scientists are turning data into sound to listen to the whispers of the universe (and more)” by Jeffrey Cooke
- https://www.space.com/astronomy-sonification-turn-data-to-music
“Sonification and Sound Design for Astronomy Research, Education and Public Engagement” by A. Zanella
- https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.13536

Oystersong

“Playing sea soundscapes can summon thousands of baby oysters – and help regrow oyster reefs” by Dominic McAfee
- https://theconversation.com/playing-sea-soundscapes-can-summon-thousands-of-baby-oysters-and-help-regrow-oyster-reefs-188006
“Soundscape enrichment enhances recruitment and habitat building on new oyster reef restorations” by Dominic McAfee, Brittany R. Williams, Lachlan McLeod, Andreas Reuter, Zak Wheaton, and Sean D. Connell
- https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14307
“Oyster Reefs at Risk and Recommendations for Conservation, Restoration, and Management” by Michael W. Beck et al.
- https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/61/2/107/242615

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/happy-healthy-kids-hearing-data-oystersong

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Healthy Breaks, Diarrhea Gene, Motorcycle Light Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Today we discuss the benefits of taking breaks during work, how milk led to death, and a new configuration of lights that might lead to a massive decrease in the amount of motorcycle accidents that happen at night.

Healthy Breaks

“Microbreaks may help to prevent workplace burnout” by Neil McKim
- https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/microbreaks-may-help-to-prevent-workplace-burnout/
“Microbreaks can increase your well-being, but only if you do these types of activities, experts say” by Megan Marples
- https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/31/health/microbreaks-benefits-report-wellness/index.html

Diarrhea Gene

“Famine and disease may have driven ancient Europeans’ lactose tolerance” by Bruce Bower
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/lactose-tolerance-milk-famine-disease-ancient-europe
“Famine and disease drove the evolution of lactose tolerance in Europe” by University of Bristol
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220727110700.htm

Motorcycle Light

“New motorcycle lighting design could save lives” by Rice University
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/968338#.Y090EEpxNdQ.reddit
“Effect of motorcycle lighting configurations on drivers’ perceptions of closing during nighttime driving” by Bradley W. Weaver et al.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369847822001942

Find episode transcripts here:https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/healthy-breaks-diarrhea-gene-motorcycle-light

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Techno-Lonely, TV Glasses, Snooze Button Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

Today we explore how technology is making us lonely, how a new pair of glasses may be expanding your idea of a computer screen, and how hitting the snooze button too many times could ruin your sleep hygiene.

Techno-Lonely

“Cultivate Deeper Connections Using the Science of Friendship” BY Ryan Jenkins
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-case-connection/202209/cultivate-deeper-connections-using-the-science-friendship
“Teens around the world are lonelier than a decade ago. The reason may be smartphones” by Tara Bahrampour
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/teens-loneliness-smart-phones/2021/07/20/cde8c866-e84e-11eb-8950-d73b3e93ff7f_story.html

TV Glasses

“Lenovo’s New Glasses Project A Computer Display Inches From Your Eyes” by Daniel Gyllhem
- https://vigourtimes.com/lenovos-new-glasses-project-a-computer-display-inches-from-your-eyes/
“The Lenovo Glasses T1 are a monitor you wear on your face” by Joseph Foley
- https://www.creativebloq.com/news/lenovo-glasses-t1
“Lenovo Glasses T1 unveiled: Take a private big screen experience anywhere” by Darragh Murphy
- https://www.laptopmag.com/news/lenovo-glasses-T1-wearable-display

Snooze Button

“Hitting the snooze button? You’re far from alone, study shows” by UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/968205
“Snoozing: an examination of a common method of waking” by Stephen M Mattingly et al.
- https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/45/10/zsac184/6661272?login=false

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/techno-lonely-tv-glasses-snooze-button

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Mental Health Robot, Seaweed Coffee, Brain Stimulation for ED Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Let’s talk about a recent study that shows children are more likely to be honest with their emotions when talking to a robot, a revolutionary new way to make single-use coffee pods from seaweed, and, trigger warning, how deep brain stimulation might help those suffering from eating disorders.

Mental Health Robot

“Children more candid about mental health when talking to robot, study finds” by Hannah Devlin
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/sep/01/children-mental-health-talking-robot-study-cambridge
“Robots may be better at spotting mental wellbeing issues in children than traditional methods” by Luke Hurst
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/09/01/robots-may-be-better-at-spotting-mental-wellbeing-issues-in-children-than-traditional-meth

Seaweed Coffee

“‘Revolutionary’ seaweed coffee balls could save thousands of tons of plastic waste” by Samuel Webb
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/revolutionary-seaweed-coffee-balls-could-103117132.html?guccounter=1
“Coffee Machine Ditches Plastic Pods, Uses Compressed ‘Coffee Balls’ Instead” by Adrianna Nine
- https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/339468-coffee-machine-ditches-plastic-pods-uses-compressed-coffee-balls-instead

Brain Stimulation for ED

“Effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation in Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: A Systematic Review” by Timothy I Hsu et al.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36191890/
“Deep brain stimulation” by Mayo Clinic
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/mental-health-robot-seaweed-coffee-brain-stimulation-for-ed

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Health and Connection, 3D Dam, Reliance on English Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about the behaviors researchers say can make us more connected with each other, how China is building an AI-powered, 3D Printed dam, and how an over-reliance on the English language is causing problems in the field of cognitive science.

Health and Connection

“Feeling connected enhances mental and physical health – here are 4 research-backed ways to find moments of connection with loved ones and strangers” by Dave Smallen
- https://theconversation.com/feeling-connected-enhances-mental-and-physical-health-here-are-4-research-backed-ways-to-find-moments-of-connection-with-loved-ones-and-strangers-185012
“Infant-Mother Face-to-Face Interaction: Age and Gender Differences in Coordination and the Occurrence of Miscoordination” by Edward Z. Tronick and Jeffery F. Cohn1
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/1131074?origin=crossref

3D Dam

“China Proposed To Build A Dam with a Distributed 3D Printer” by RUPENDRA BRAHAMBHATT
- https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/08/chinese-propose-to-build-a-dam-with-a-distributed-3d-printer/
“3D printing of large filled construction projects” by Tianyun Liu
- http://jst.tsinghuajournals.com/EN/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2022.25.045#1

Reliance on English

“Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science” by Damián E. Blasi et al.
- https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(22)00236-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1364661322002364%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
“How English Dominates Cognitive Science” By Rocío Txabarriaga
- https://slator.com/how-english-dominates-cognitive-science/

Find episode transcripts here:https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/health-and-connection-3d-dam-reliance-on-english

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Shower Ideas, Medicinal Chocolate, Black Holes Burping Nov 25, 2022

Show notes

Today we explore the science behind getting great ideas in the shower, how regular chocolate consumption can slow down cognitive decline, and how a black hole recently burped out the remnants of a star it absorbed four YEARS ago!

Shower Ideas

“The Science of Why You Have Great Ideas in The Shower” by Stacey Colino
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-science-of-why-you-have-great-ideas-in-the-shower/ar-AA10ANav
“An improved neuroanatomical model of the default-mode network reconciles previous neuroimaging and neuropathological findings” by Pedro Nascimento Alves, Chris Foulon, Vyacheslav Karolis, Danilo Bzdok, Daniel S. Margulies, Emmanuelle Volle & Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-019-0611-3

Medicinal Chocolate